The next moment.
Phantom Moon, the Half Venerable seated upon the highest throne in the great hall, her bearing cold and transcendent, suddenly released a shuddering surge of aura.
A vast, sea-like pressure capable of crushing all living beings instantly swept through the entire hall, filling every inch of space, firmly locking down everyone's minds and movements.
In an instant, the hall, which had been noisy and chaotic only moments ago, became so silent one could hear a needle drop—dead still and soundless.
Every Nascent Soul Cultivator immediately composed themselves, standing solemnly with their hands at their sides. No one dared utter another word.
Phantom Moon's cool almond eyes swept calmly over the people below. Her gaze was as still as water, without the slightest trace of panic.
Only after a long while did she speak unhurriedly and composedly:
"Just now, I received a Divine Soul decree personally transmitted by the President."
The moment those words were spoken, the taut heartstrings of the Nascent Soul Cultivators in the hall abruptly loosened, and more than half of the dread in their hearts dissipated.
With the President's decree overseeing matters, even the most earth-shaking upheaval naturally had its reason. There was no need to worry that the sky might fall.
Everyone raised their heads, their gazes converging upon the throne, their eyes filled with reverence and intense curiosity.
Before anyone could ask...
Phantom Moon went straight to the point, her cool voice echoing through the hall:
"The island's movement and the upheaval of heaven and earth that you are sensing are neither a calamity nor damage to the formation.
They are part of a plan the President laid out long ago."
"There is no need for you to panic, much less make a mountain out of a molehill."
As her words fell,